Energy firms make us save fuel... then leave all the lights on

HOW ILLUMINATING: Centrica is lit up after most staff have left [SWNS]

Three of the Big Six firms have been caught leaving their HQ lights on long after most workers have gone home.

Centrica, npower and SSE are all burning the midnight oil in empty buildings just days after announcing huge price rises that are forcing desperate Brits to save all the power they can.

The sight of npower’s headquarters, brightly lit at 7pm, will anger its 3.1million customers who this week were told to use less fuel if they wanted to save money.

As the energy giant announced rises of 9.3% for electricity and 11.1% for gas, chief executive Paul Massara said: “The cheapest unit of energy is always the one that isn’t used.”

LIGHTS ON NOBODY HOME: npower's headquarters [SWNS]

“It’s a joke that they can jack up everyone’s energy bill while lighting up their own office like a Christmas tree when no-one is there”

Customer John Sadford

Customer John Sadford, 30, who lives near the offices in Worcester, said: “It’s a joke that they can jack up everyone’s energy bill while lighting up their own office like a Christmas tree when no-one is there.”

The scene was repeated at 6.45pm at Centrica in Windsor, Berks, despite their customers facing rises of 8.4% for gas and 10.4% for electricity from November 23.

And in Perth at the offices of SSE, which is raising its prices by 8.2%, a handful of cars remained but every light was on.

WASTE: SSE leave their lights on overnight [SWNS]

The shocking snaps emerged as former prime minister Sir John Major said energy firms should be hit with an emergency tax on their massive profits.

The ex-Tory leader stormed: “People will have to choose between keeping warm and eating.”

The bosses of all six firms – the others are EON, EDF and Scottish Power – are now preparing for a showdown with MPs after being called to explain their price rises to the Commons energy committee next Tuesday.